Summary: Following the General Discussion on
“Children in armed conflicts” (1992),
pursuant General Assembly
resolution 48/157 (1993), three
reports were submitted at the
General Assembly by the Secretary-
general. This is the outline of the
summary report submitted at the
fifty-first (1996) session (A/51/306)
General Assembly
A/51/306
26 August 1996
Fifty-first session
Item 108 of the provisional agenda*
PROMOTION AND PROTECTION OF THE RIGHTS OF CHILDREN
Impact of armed conflict on children
Note by the Secretary-General
1. The Secretary-General has the honour to transmit herewith to
the General Assembly the study on the impact of armed conflict
on children, prepared by Ms. Graça Machel, the expert appointed
by him on 8 June 1994, pursuant to General Assembly resolution
48/157 of 20 December 1993. The study was undertaken with
the support of the United Nations Centre for Human Rights and
the United Nations Children's Fund, as provided for in the
resolution, and is the fruit of extensive and wide-ranging
consultations.
2. In the study, the expert proposes the elements of a
comprehensive agenda for action by Member States and the
international community to improve the protection and care of
children in conflict situations, and to prevent these conflicts from
occurring. The study demonstrates the centrality of these issues
to the international human rights, peace and security and
development agendas, and should serve to promote urgent and
resolute action on the part of the international community to
redress the plight of children affected by armed conflicts.
3. The Secretary-General trusts that the General Assembly will
give thorough consideration to this study and to the mechanisms
required for following up and monitoring the implementation of
the conclusions and recommendations it will adopt on this
important subject.
IMPACT OF ARMED CONFLICT ON CHILDREN
Report of the expert of the Secretary-General, Ms. Graça Machel,
submitted pursuant to General Assembly resolution 48/157
CONTENTS
Paragraphs
I. INTRODUCTION 1 - 28
A. The attack on children 1 - 8
B. Course of the study and its methodology 9 - 21
C. Patterns and characteristics of contemporary armed conflicts
22 - 28
II. MITIGATING THE IMPACT OF ARMED CONFLICT ON CHILDREN
29 - 203
A. Child soldiers 34 - 62
1. Recruitment 36 - 43
2. How child soldiers are used44 - 48
3. Demobilization and reintegration into society 49 - 57
4. Preventing future recruitment 58 - 61
5. Specific recommendations on child soldiers 62
B. Refugees and internally displaced children 63 - 90
1. Vulnerability of children in flight 67 - 68
2. Unaccompanied children 69 - 74
3. Evacuation 75 - 76
4. Children in camps 77 - 80
5. The situation of internally displaced children 81 - 83
6. Asylum and the right to identity and nationality 84 - 86
7. Returning home and durable solutions 87 - 89
8. Specific recommendations for refugee and internally displaced
children 90
C. Sexual exploitation and gender-based violence 91 - 110
1. Gender-based violence: a weapon of war 91 - 95
2. Child victims of prostitution and sexual exploitation 96 - 102
3. Ending impunity 103 - 106
4. Preventing gender-based violence 107 - 109
5. Specific recommendations on sexual exploitation and gender-
based violence 110
D. Landmines and unexploded ordnance 111 - 126
1. The threat to children 113 - 118
2. Mine clearance, mine awareness and rehabilitation 119 - 122
3. The need for an international ban 123 - 125
4. Specific recommendations on landmines and unexploded
ordnance 126 38
E. Sanctions 127 - 135
1. Humanitarian exemptions 128 - 130
2. The need for child impact assessments and monitoring 131 -
134
3. Specific recommendations on sanctions 135
F. Health and nutrition 136 - 165
1. Communicable diseases 140 - 142
2. Reproductive health 143 - 144
3. Disability 145
4. Destruction of health facilities 146 - 148
5. Protecting health services and health workers 149 - 151